Wimbledon 2025 champions decided as Bublik stuns Djokovic and Sabalenka denied

The Wimbledon Championships are back, with the 2025 edition getting underway at SW19 today. Reigning men's champion Carlos Alcaraz and Brits Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu are among the headline acts on day one of the grass-court Grand Slam and there will be plenty more drama to come between now and Sunday July 13. Alcaraz is the bookmakers' favourite to reign supreme at Wimbledon for a third year running after winning the French Open and Queen's this month, with Jannik Sinner a potential - and familiar - opponent in the championship match. Fourth seed Jack Draper is the main home hope.

It's slightly more open on the women's side but Aryna Sabalenka, the world No.1, comes in as the favourite although the Belarusian would be a first-time champion at this Slam having never previously progressed past the semi-finals. Her French Open final conqueror Coco Gauff is another player widely fancied to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish in a fortnight's time.

The Express Sport team predict who will win the men's and women's Wimbledon titles...

Sam Smith

Men's winner - Jannik Sinner

This summer has the feel of a first Wimbledon title for Sinner. Looking as physically strong as ever after his three months away from the court, the Italian's form has been almost exemplary since early May. He was unfortunate to be on the losing end of one of the greatest matches in history at the French Open, and the draw seems to be reasonably kind.

Women's winner - Coco Gauff

Wimbledon was the stage for Gauff's breakthrough as a 15-year-old and it could now be the scene of her third Grand Slam title. Aryna Sabalenka's form has been iffy, and nobody else on the WTA Tour seems better primed to win a major than Gauff, who is still on a high after her French Open title.

Furthest Brit - Jack Draper (semi-finals)

Much has been made of Draper's horrible draw, but I'm backing the 23-year-old to come of age this summer. He's the world No. 4 for a reason and has recorded some excellent results against top-quality opposition in lesser tournaments. Now is the time to replicate that on the big stage. I'd also like to see one of the British wildcards go far - Mimi Xu will give Emma Raducanu a tough time in round one.

Charlie Malam

Men's winner - Carlos Alcaraz

It's hard to bet against the French Open and Queen's champion really. Fabio Fognini isn't the ideal first-round opponent but the Spaniard is just a level above everyone who isn't named Jannik Sinner. He'll see off all opponents, including Djokovic or Sinner in the final, to make it three in a row at SW19.

Women's winner - Jessica Pegula

The recent trend is for the women's champion to be a bit of a surprise. Perhaps it is time for Jessica Pegula, who has played five finals in 2025 and beat Iga Swiatek to win the Eastbourne title at the weekend, to win her very first Grand Slam in that case. The No.3 seed will have to survive some major tests - likely against Tatjana Maria in round two, Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals and Coco Gauff in the semis - to do so, though.

Furthest Brit - Jack Draper (quarter-finals)

I'd love to go outside of the box with this one, especially given how tough Jack Draper's draw is. But I'll say he gets through a four or five-setter against Alexander Bublik before falling to Novak Djokovic in the last eight. I can't see any other Brits getting past the third round.

Fraser Watson

Men's winner - Jannik Sinner

There is a reason that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the world's two best players, and I expect them to meet in another Grand Slam final at SW19. Alcaraz may have won at Queen's, but the after-effects of his gruelling French Open campaign were apparent, with him admitting fatigue in the earlier rounds. Sinner may not have enjoyed the same preparation time on grass, but I suspect he's arrived at Wimbledon fitter and fresher. I'm backing the Italian for Grand Slam No.4.

Women's winner - Jessica Pegula

My head says Aryna Sabalenka or Coco Gauff, my hunch says something different. World No.1 Sabalenka has appeared rattled in the aftermath of her French Open defeat to the American, inviting ample media criticism. But does Gauff have what it takes yet to win back-to-back Slams? For me, this could be the summer when instead, Jessica Pegula finally cements progress with the Slam title she craves.

Furthest Brit - Jack Draper (quarter-finals)

It's a nightmare draw for Jack Draper, but he remains our best British hope at Wimbledon. He is capable of beating the world's best, but the potential of facing former finalist Marin Cilic and Alexander Bublik in the first week is brutal. I expect Draper to still make the last eight, but fear is a tough pathway will see him run out of steam against Novak Djokovic.

Yasmin Syed

Men's winner - Carlos Alcaraz

Tucked away in the bottom half of the draw with no possibility of facing Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic or Jack Draper until the final, I'm backing Alcaraz to complete a hat-trick at SW19 and do the Calendar Slam again. He's virtually unstoppable on the grass, and he's already played himself into form by winning Queen's.

Women's winner - Coco Gauff

Gauff has never made it to the quarter-finals here but I believe this is the year she goes all the way. Ignore her Berlin loss - it was a quick turnaround after Paris. The draw has been kind, I can't see her getting into any tough matches until late in the second week, and by then she'll know how to handle it. The Channel Slam is on.

Furthest Brit - Jack Draper (quarter-finals)

Arguably the British man with the best chance of success here since Andy Murray, Draper has been given a nightmare draw. But if he survives a potential third-round grudge match against Alexander Bublik, I see him going all the way to the quarters. If Novak Djokovic doesn't end his run there, Jannik Sinner likely will in the semis.

Mikael McKenzie

Men's winner - Alexander Bublik

Hear me out here. He has a 100 per cent win record on grass this summer, beating Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev en route to the Halle Open title just last week.

He's in arguably the best form of his life and has all the weapons to cause damage on grass. The 28-year-old has been building his form after reaching the French Open quarter-finals. He has a tough path with potential meetings with Jack Draper, Novak Djokovic, Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, in that order. But miracles have happened before.

Women's winner - Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff made her big breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2019, reaching the fourth round. She did so again in 2021 and 2024 but has never bettered that feat.

The American has recently proved that she has Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek's number and is a top pick for her third Grand Slam title.

Furthest Brit - Cam Norrie (fourth round)

I struggle to see how any Brit will make it past the third round; the draw has been extremely grim for the home hopefuls. You would expect Jack Draper to breeze into round three, where he will lose to Alexander Bublik.

But let's try to look at this with a glass half full. Cam Norrie probably has the best chance. He's reached the semis here before. And he tends to turn up at the Slams, progressing to the fourth round at Roland Garros earlier this month.

Norrie faces a 37-year-old Roberto Bautista Agut in round one. Probably No. 12 seed Frances Tiafoe in round two, which won't be easy. Queen's finalist Jiri Lehecka in round three. Get through all that and it will likely be Holger Rune in round four. It's very challenging, but doable.

Jack McEachen

Men's winner - Jannik Sinner

At some point, this incredible Carlos Alcaraz form is going to end. And when it does, Jannik Sinner will be waiting to pounce. A historic French Open final provided him with all the necessary motivation to get revenge and having been ever so close to winning in Paris, the world No. 1 will be determined to showcase exactly why he sits ahead of his peers.

Women's winner - Amanda Anisimova

Amanda Anisimova has one of the most exciting first-round ties, against Yulia Putintseva, where the rising star has another chance to develop her git. At Queen's, where she reached the final against a dominant throwback player in Tatjana Maria, a steeliness that had been missing from her game was evident throughout the tournament - a hugely positive skillset added to a very dangerous player.

A 6-1 6-1 defeat in Berlin to Liudmila Samsonova was worrying, but Anisimova will be hoping that match was a blip rather than anything concerning.

Furthest Brit - Jack Draper (semi-finals)

It is hard to look beyond Jack Draper as the best-performing Brit at Wimbledon. Even if he runs into Novak Djokovic at the quarter-finals, he should fancy himself to end the Serb's dreams of a 25th Grand Slam title.

As long as Draper's body continues to hold up, as it has for the past year, he is the most exciting prospect we've had since Andy Murray.

Jonathan Spencer

Men's winner - Carlos Alcaraz

It's hard to see past Alcaraz, let's be honest. He's the top dog at the moment and Jannik Sinner will still be licking his wounds after his French Open final heartbreak. The Spaniard faces tough tests from the third round onwards but he'll have too much and is full of confidence after his Queen's win.

Women's winner - Coco Gauff

I'm backing Gauff to seal back-to-back Grand Slams and make Aryna Sabalenka look foolish following her comments after the French Open final. She suggested Gauff only one because of her own mistakes, but the youngster ran out deserved victor. And although she has been handed a brutal draw, it may actually end up helping her as she'll be dialled in from the get-go against tricky players.

Furthest Brit - Jack Draper (semi-finals)

Surely you can't go against Draper, even though he has been dealt an unlucky hand with the draw. I see him making the quarter-finals and then coming unstuck against Novak Djokovic, whose experience and success at Wimbledon will prove too much for a player whose record on the grass isn't the strongest.

Neil McLeman

Men's winner - Novak Djokovic

The Serbian superstar has won the title seven times and reached the last six finals, including last year just after knee surgery. He is aged 38 but looks in great shape. The draw is his biggest obstacle - he could have to beat Jack Draper, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz - but he is still the best grass-court player.

Women's winner - Aryna Sabalenka

Since missing Wimbledon last year, the world No.1 has won the US Open and reached the finals in Melbourne and Paris. She has mounted a concerted PR campaign in the build-up to Wimbledon after her sour grapes against Coco Gauff after losing the French Open final. But the Belarusian, who was banned in 2022, has reached the Wimbledon semi-finals in two or her last three appearances. She has the power game to be a champion here.

Furthest Brit - Jack Draper (quarter-finals)

The British No.1 faces a re-match with his French Open conqueror Alexander Bublik in the third round but he will have learned from the experience. Draper, 22, has only won two matches in his first three appearances here and it is too soon to expect a real title challenge. Racing the quarter-finals - where he is set to meet seven-time champion Novak Djokovic - will be another huge step in his career.